Kite plane



Dec. 15,1936. J. T. STONEY ET AL KITE PLANE Original Filed June 22, 1932 [/v Vf/V 717%(5 NE Y U1. M orvnB. Wu. uAMs JOHN T. 5T0

Patented Dec. 15, 1936 UNHTED STATES PATENT OFFIQE KITE PLANE Application June 22, 1932, Serial No. 618,652 Renewed January 2, 1936 6 Claims.

This invention relates to kites and more particularly to the so-called airplane type which will fly and remain in the air so long as there is a sufficient breeze or wind blowing.

An object of the invention resides in producing a kite which is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture and having a particularly attractive appearance.

Another object of the invention resides in producing a fabricated kite, particularly desirable for shipping, and one in which assembly is effected with the most simple instructions.

With the objects above indicated and other objects hereinafter explained in view, the invention consists in the construction and combination of elements hereinafter described and claimed.

Referring to the drawing,

Fig. l is a perspective view of a kite embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a developed plan view of the blank or form ready to be assembled.

Fig. 5 is an elevational view of the forward wing support, and

Fig. 6 is an elevational view of the rear wing support.

In the drawing there is disposed a kite construction which has the appearance of an airplane and which is adapted to be flown in the air and which will be maintained therein with the slightest of breeze blowing. The construction is furthermore such that the kite requires no tail or other balancing means, and which, therefore, has a most pleasing appearance. The kite comprises a fuselage or body portion Ill, formed of any suitable light-weight material, which is elongated and substantially V-shaped in cross-section, the bottom or keel I I of the fuselage being upwardly and rearwardly inclined while in flight, the free ends I2 of the fuselage tapering downwardly from the bow or stem I3 to the tail or rear end I4. The

upper free edges of the fuselage are reinforced the fuselage, and has its forward end secured at I8 and its rear end secured to the stem at I9 to the material of the fuselage. The forward end of the fuselage converges toward and terminates in a stem 28 which extends forwardly and upwardly at an angle to the keel portion II, and the free ends of the lightweight covering material are 5 joined together and to the stem 29 by a flap 2 I.

Front or forward wings 22 extend laterally upon opposite sides of the fuselage Ill and are preferably formed integrally therewith. Transversely extending reinforcing members 23, preferably of 10 reed, are positioned adjacent the forward and rear edges respectively of the wings 22, and are secured to the latter by flaps 24 which are for the purpose of reinforcing the wings to hold them in proper position with respect to the fuselage 15 I B. The forward reed 23 has a spacer or bracing member 25, which maintains the longitudinally extending reeds or gunwales I5 in the desired spaced relation.

Adjacent the rear reed 23 is disposed a tie wire 2'! which has hooked ends engaging the outer surfaces of the fuselage and extending around the reeds I5. This tends to hold the fuselage in proper shape and at the same time functions to maintain the member 25 of the front reed 23 in 25 rigid engagement with the reeds I5. Reeds 29, or other suitable reinforcing means, extend along the outer edges of the wings for a short distance from the rear or trailing edges of the wings forwardly, and are secured in proper position by flaps 30. These reeds 29 tend to hold the wings straight therealong, but permit the forward portions of the wings to bow upwardly under the action of the breeze, as best seen in Fig. 2, so that s the wings will more readily respond to the breeze 35 and tend to maintain the kite in flight.

At the rear portion of the fuselage .a pair of rear wings 3I extend laterally upon opposite sides of the fuselage III and are preferably integrally united therewith. The rear portions of the wings are reinforced by transversely extending reeds 32, which are maintained in place by flaps 33, clearly shown in Fig. 1. To give rigidity to the rear wings El flaps 3d are provided along the free edges thereof and are folded over and secured to the adjacent wing surface. It should be understood that while reed reinforcing has not been disclosed in connection with all of the free edges of the wings, the same may be employed if it is found desirable to do so, in order toprovide the necessary rigidity for the kite. A flat resilient member or strap 35 may be secured to the upper surface of the rear wings 3| and at the forward portion thereof, as shown in Fig. 1, to extend over the exposed portions of the longitudinally extending reeds or gunwales [5, so as to give flexibility to the wings 3| to the end that they will flex rather freely under the influence of the wind action thereon.

One of the important considerations in producing a kite of this type is that of fabrication and simplicity of assembly, and in the present construction we believe that these conditions have been quite effectively accomplished. The question of fabrication is important in that it requires very little space in shipping, and the construction is simplified by reason of the form of the blank produced.

In Fig. 4 we have shown a blank which in outline, and assembled in accordance with the instruction, produces the attractive kite illustrated in Fig. 1. This kite, of course, may be made out of any suitable light material, and, if desired, may be constructed of cellophane of different colors. The blank consists of a flat body portion 33, which is tapered longitudinally upon opposite sides of its longitudinal center from the forward end to the rear end and which constitutes the fuselage of the kite. The front or forward end of the body portion is cut away to provide a V 31, the apex of which is the longitudinal center of the body portion. Adjacent the forward end of the body portion 36 are flat laterally extending portions 38, which are formed integrally with the body portion 36 and which are adapted to provide the front wings of the kite. The forward edges of the portions 38 are cut angularly, as shown, to provide the proper curvature for the forward portion of the front wings when assembled. Adjacent the rear end of the body portion 33 are flat laterally extending p01- tions 39 formed integral with the body portion 36, and which are adapted to provide the rear wings of the kite, the portions 39 being considerably smaller than the portions 38. The body portion 36 is adapted to be folded along its longitudinal center, indicated by the line 40, while the portions 38 and 39 are adapted to be folded along their line of juncture with the body portion 36, as indicated by the line 4|. Around the body portion 36 and the laterally extending portions 38 and 39 are flaps 42 adapted to be provided with mucilage or other suitable adhesive, and these flaps are folded respectively along the dotted lines indicated thereon. Some of the flaps secure the reinforcing members or reeds, as already explained, while other of the flaps tend to add rigidity to the portions to which they are secured.

In shipping the kite the blank shown in Fig. 4 with instructions for properly folding along the dotted lines, as heretofore described, is accompanied with the transversely extending reeds 23 and the spacer members 26 and 2'! secured thereto, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6 respectively, together with the longitudinally extending reeds constituting the gunwales and keel i5 and I1, these reeds and spacer members being also flat and requiring little space. To assemble the kite no tools of any manner are required, and it is only necessary to wet the mucilage or other suitable adhesive to secure the reeds in place, thus producing a fabricated kite which cannot be damaged or otherwise ruined in assembly by a misunderstanding of the instructions as is so frequent in other kites of the fabricated type.

After the kite is assembled and ready for flying a bridle or attaching string 43 has one of its ends connected to the keel I! at its forward end and at its rear end to the keel at a point substantially in vertical alignment with the trailing edge 23 of the forward wing, through openings 44 in the fuselage. The bridle 43 may be tied adjacent its mid-portion to provide a loop 45 to which any suitable string may be attached. It has been found by actual try-out that due to the relationship of the various elements in the construction the kite remains in the air with the assistance of a very slight breeze, and in substantially a horizontal position similar to the position of an airplane flying through the air.

While we have described the preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that we are not to be limited thereto, inasmuch as changes and modifications may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention what we claim is:

1. A kite plane comprising a fuselage constructed of light material and V-shaped in cross section and having a keel terminating in an upwardly and forwardly projecting stem, gunwales secured to and extending aft from the upper end of said stem and converging toward said keel, means for bracing said gunwales apart to obtain a maximum spacing thereof forward of amidships of the fuselage, forward wings secured to said gunwales and extending outwardly from said fuselage adjacent the location of maximum spacing of said gunwales, said gunwales converging forwardly and rearwardly from said location of maximum spacing, the leading edges of said wings being located rearwardiy of said stem, and rear wings secured to said gunwales adjacent to the stern of said fuselage, whereby the plane will normally assume a substantially horizontal position when in flight.

2. A kite plane comprising a fuselage constructed of light material and V-shaped in cross section and having a keel terminating in an upwardly and forwardly projecting stem portion, gunwales secured to and extending aft from the upper end of said stem portion and converging toward said keel, means for bracing said gunwales apart to obtain a maximum spacing thereof forward of amidships of said fuselage, forward wings secured to said gunwales and extending outwardly from said fuselage adjacent the location of maximum spacing of said gunwales, said gunwales converging forwardly and rearwardly from said location of maximum spacing, said forward wings being flexible in a transverse direction to provide concavities on the under surfaces of said wings under the action of air currents, and rear wings secured to said gunwales adjacent to the stern of said fuselage, whereby the plane will normally assume a substantially horizontal position when in flight.

3. A kite plane comprising a fuselage con structed of light material and V-shaped in cross section and having a keel terminating in an upwardly and forwardly projecting stem portion, gunwales secured to and extending aft from the upper end of said stem portion and converging toward said keel, means for bracing said gunwales apart to obtain a maximum spacing thereof forward of amidships of said fuselage, forward wings secured to said gunwales and extending outwardly from said fuselage adjacent the location of maximum spacing of said gunwales, said gunwales converging forwardly and rearwardly from said location of maximum spacing, rear wing members secured to said gunwales adjacent to the stern of said fuselage, and flexible means extending transversely of said fuselage and secured at its ends to said rear wing members whereby said rear wings are responsive to air currents directed therebeneath and the plane will normally assume a substantially horizontal position when in flight.

4. A kite plane comprising a fuselage constructed of light material and V-shaped in cross section and having a keel terminating in an upwardly and forwardly projecting stem portion, gunwales secured to and extending aft from the upper end of said stem portion and converging toward said keel, means for bracing said gunwales apart to obtain a maximum spacing thereof forward of amidships of said fuselage, forward Wings secured to said gunwales and extending outwardly from said fuselage adjacent the location of maximum spacing of said gunwales, said gunwales converging forwardly and rearwardly from said location of maximum spacing, the leading edges of said wings being located rearwardly of said stem, rear wings secured to said gunwales adjacent to the rear portion of said fuselage; and a bridle having its forward end secured to said keel adjacent said stem and its rear end secured to said keel in substantially vertical alinement with the trailing edges of said wings, whereby the plane will normally assume a substantially horizontal position when in flight.

5. A kite plane comprising a fuselage constructed of light material and V-shaped in cross section and having a keel terminating in an upwardly and forwardly projecting stem portion, gunwales secured to and extending aft from the upper end of said stem portion and converging toward said keel, means for bracing said gunwales apart to obtain a maximum spacing thereof forward of amidships of said fuselage, wings secured to said gunwales and extending outwardly from said fuselage adjacent the location of maximum spacing of said gunwales, said gunwales converging forwardly and rearwardly from said location of maximum spacing, means located aft of said bracing means for tying said gunwales together, and rear wings secured to said gunwales adjacent to the stern of said fuselage, whereby the plane will normally assume a substantially horizontal position when in flight.

6. A kite plane comprising a fuselage of V- shape in cross-section; forward wings secured to said fuselage and extending outwardly therefrom intermediate its length; and rear wings secured to said fuselage adjacent to the rear portion thereof, said fuselage including a frame covered on its sides and bottom throughout its length by a flexible light weight material, and said frame including a keel, an upwardly and forwardly projecting stem connected to the forward end of said keel and terminating above the plane of said wings, gunwales connected at their forward ends to the upper ends of said stern and diverging rearwardly to a zone adjacent said forward wings and from said zone converging rearwardly toward one another, said gunwales also converging toward said keel from stem to stern, and means for bracing said gunwales apart to obtain a maximum spacing thereof forward of amidships of the fuselage, said fuselage tapering forwardly and rearwardly from said point of maximum spacing, whereby the plane will normally assume a substantially horizontal position when in flight.

JOHN T. STONEY. ULMONT B. WILLIAMS. 

